Royal College of Organists
Encyclopedia
The Royal College of Organists or RCO, is a charity and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom
, but with members around the world. Its role is to promote and advance organ
playing and choral
music, and it offers musical education and training
for organists and choral directors.
The College provides examinations in organ-playing, choral directing and organ-teaching; it runs an extensive education and outreach programme across the UK; and it maintains an internationally important library containing more than 60,000 titles concerning the organ, organ and choral music and organ playing.
, the organist of St Michael, Cornhill
in the City of London
, and received its Royal Charter in 1893. In 1903 it was offered a 99-year lease at peppercorn rent
on a remarkable building designed by the architect H. H. Cole in Kensington Gore
, West London. When it became clear in the mid 1980s that an economic rent would be charged on expiry of that lease, the lease was sold and the College moved into new accommodation in 1991. In 2003 the college moved again to a temporary home in Millennium Point in the Digbeth
area of Birmingham
, while plans were made for more permanent purpose-built premises around the Grade I listed former Curzon Street railway station
in Birmingham
, a notable piece of monumental railway architecture. New facilities designed by Associated Architects included a new library and 270 seat concert hall.
In late 2005 the RCO announced that this move would not be taking place. The College subsequently announced that it would no longer be looking for a permanent home of this kind, focusing instead on core activity such as education, events, examinations and member services.
Since then the college has continued to expand it range of outreach and education activities. New events such as the Discovery series have been introduced, new partnerships forged to deliver activities such as the RCO St Giles Summer School for Organists, and in 2009 RCO Academy was launched with the aim of further increasing the range of lifelong learning opportunities for everyone from the youngest beginner through to more experienced organists looking to refine their skills.
The college's library is housed at Birmingham City University
's archive records centre.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but with members around the world. Its role is to promote and advance organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
playing and choral
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
music, and it offers musical education and training
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
for organists and choral directors.
The College provides examinations in organ-playing, choral directing and organ-teaching; it runs an extensive education and outreach programme across the UK; and it maintains an internationally important library containing more than 60,000 titles concerning the organ, organ and choral music and organ playing.
History
The RCO was founded as the College of Organists in 1864 by Richard LimpusRichard Limpus
Richard Davidge Limpus was an English organist and composer, who is best known for being the founder of the Royal College of Organists.-Background:...
, the organist of St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill is a medieval parish church in the City of London with pre-Norman Conquest parochial foundation. The medieval structure was lost in the Great Fire of London and the current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670-1677....
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, and received its Royal Charter in 1893. In 1903 it was offered a 99-year lease at peppercorn rent
Peppercorn (legal)
A peppercorn in legal parlance is a metaphor for a very small payment, a nominal consideration, used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract. "A peppercorn does not cease to be good consideration if it is established that the promisee does not like pepper and will throw...
on a remarkable building designed by the architect H. H. Cole in Kensington Gore
Kensington Gore
Kensington Gore is a street in central London, England, the same name having been formerly used for the piece of land on which it stands. It runs along the south side of Hyde Park, continuing as Kensington Road to both the east and west. A gore is a narrow, triangular piece of land.The road is part...
, West London. When it became clear in the mid 1980s that an economic rent would be charged on expiry of that lease, the lease was sold and the College moved into new accommodation in 1991. In 2003 the college moved again to a temporary home in Millennium Point in the Digbeth
Digbeth
Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into...
area of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, while plans were made for more permanent purpose-built premises around the Grade I listed former Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station
Curzon Street railway station was a railway station in Birmingham that was used briefly for regular scheduled passenger services between 1838 and 1854 when it acted as the terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, a notable piece of monumental railway architecture. New facilities designed by Associated Architects included a new library and 270 seat concert hall.
In late 2005 the RCO announced that this move would not be taking place. The College subsequently announced that it would no longer be looking for a permanent home of this kind, focusing instead on core activity such as education, events, examinations and member services.
Since then the college has continued to expand it range of outreach and education activities. New events such as the Discovery series have been introduced, new partnerships forged to deliver activities such as the RCO St Giles Summer School for Organists, and in 2009 RCO Academy was launched with the aim of further increasing the range of lifelong learning opportunities for everyone from the youngest beginner through to more experienced organists looking to refine their skills.
The college's library is housed at Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
's archive records centre.